In the Shonai Kagura Matsuri, two kinds of sacred dance - Fukayama-ryu Kagura and Inuyama-ryu Kagura are performed. There are 12 kagura groups, who thrill onlookers with their majestic and solemn performances. The matsuri started in 1990. Shonai Kagura began in 1778, as an offering from the shrine priests to the deity.